Slip-off ingot



. y rPatented Jan. 31, 1939 PATENT Aoi-'Fic'ii SLIP-OFF INGo'r AlbertH.,Jung, Flushing, N. Y., assignor to United American MetalsCorporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a. corporation of NewYork Application July21, 1938, Serial No. 220,535

4 Claims.

kThis invention relates to metal ingots and more lparticularly to ingotsof thel type that are fed gradually into a melting ypot by an automaticfeeder.

v j Prior to my invention ingots of such configuration andcharacteristics as to be adapted for use with automatic feeders of theMargach type for example have been devised. The"Marga ch feeder amongother elements of equipment in-Y "c'ludes an endless chain `towhich maybe attached at intervals a series'of hooks adapted to receive a seriesof ingotsA to be fed to the melting pot. One ingot for use with' theMargach feeder comprises simply an elongated bar, perforated near .35oney of its ends in a manner to permit its being t Q the feeding of theingots by the feeder into the molten bath with little attention from theoperator Vduring the feeding process, arerelatively diflicult to threadonto the feeder prior to the feeding operation. Applicant has devised anew `r ingot of such proportions and configuration as to facilitate theloading of the feeder prior to ther feeding operation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a slip-off ingot suitablefor use with the Margach s type or other feeders which is relativelyrugged and facilitates the loading of the feeder. It is a further objectof the invention to rprovide a 'slip-olf ingot having each end so formedas to o permit either end to be engaged with a Margach type or otherfeeder by a relatively simple operation.

' Other .objectsand the nature and advantages. Vof the invention will beapparent from the following description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

y Fig. 1 is a View in perspective of an ingot i accordance with myinvention; Y

Fig. Zis a cross sectional view taken along lines *yz-f2 of Fig. 1 andlooking in the direction of Y 5o the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in perspective, ap-

-` proximately full size of an ingot attached to a'.v

,feeder ring of Aanautomatic feeder;

' Fig. 4 is a side elevation illustrating the feedi 55 fof t'hejingotinto the melting pot; and,

Fig. 5 is a view similar `to Fig. 4 but with the feeding operationsubstantially completed, the ingot having slipped off the ring of thefeeder.

Referring to the drawing, an ingot I0 comprising an elongated bodyportion I having a section ,-5

I2, as illustrated in Fig. 2, is formed at each of its ends I3 and |4with a hook like configuration I5 and I6 adapted to be associated withthe feeder hook ring as illustrated in Figs, 3 and 4. The ends I3 and |4o-f the ingot bar I0 between the i0 hook portions I5 and I6 and the bodyportion have reduced portions I8 and I9, each of which are adapted to begrasped by the operator during the loading operation, or during thestoring, packing, or shipping of the ingots. It is apparent .15 from theillustration that the portions I8 and I9 being situated as they are, arehandy places for the operator to hold the ingot with a minimum ofslippage, for if the operator will pull outward- 1y, the hooks |5 and I6will become engaged. :'20

In the preferred form, the side 2D of the ingot bar I0 which is remotefrom the side 2|, at the Aends of which the hooks |5 and I6 arev formed,is substantially unbroken in configuration throughout the entire lengthof the ingot. The side 2| 25 at each end is formed with recessedportions 22 and 23, respectively, which recessed portions extend toapproximately one-half the distance from the side 2| to the side 20 toform the hook ends I5 and I6, respectively. 30

When associating the ingot l0 with the hook ring I'I of the feeder chain24, the ingot may be vsimply swung laterally toward the ring with one ofthe hook ends I3 or I4 slightly higher than the ring, great accuracybeing unnecessary, until 35 virtue of the factthat the center of gravityof the said unmelted remaining portion is ofl center, until theremaining portion of the ingot slips off completely from the hook ringinto the melting pot to complete the feeding of the ingot to the bath.The feeding machine Will then feed a second of a series of ingots to thebath in a similar manner and the cycle will be repeated. Y

It will be seen from the above that I have provided a relatively rugged,simple, slip-off type of ingot which permits of ready loading ofautomatic feeders of the Margach type feeder, for

example. It will further be understood that I have provided a slip-01Tingot of such configuration and characteristics as to permit of readyhandling for shipping and storing.

As slip-off ingots, depend, for their association with automaticfeeders, upon the configuration of their ends, any injury to same willprevent Athis necessary association. Accordingly, breakage at the endduring handling, shipping or otherwise, prevents this association andnecessitates recasting of the ingot, makes for delay, and is otherwiseobjectionable. Hence, each end of the ingot has been so formed as topermit of association with the hook ring of the feeder chain wherebyeven though one end is injured so as to prevent it being hooked throughthe hook ring, the other end may be so associated with the feeder hookring. The particular configuration, then, at each end of the ingotperforms the dual function, of first, facilitating handling, and second,effects the saving of time when one end is injured. Y.

While it is conceivable that ingots in accordance with my inventionmight be cut to shape, I prefer to cast them in a mold with the hookportions pointing in a horizontal direction, sufficient draft havingbeen provided as indicated in the section illustrated in Fig. 2.

Though the ingot bar Ill has been described as having end portions I3and I 4 including hook like configurations I5 and I6 and reducedportions I8 and I9, it is to be understood that the portions of the endsI3 and It may also be denoted by the terms nose part and base part.

-For example, the projecting portion to which the reference numeral I6has been applied may be called the nose part of the end Ill and thereduced portion I9 may be called the base part of the end I4 andfurther, the reference numeral III may generally denote the entirehooked end including the portion I9 and the portion I6.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes maybe made in this device Without departing from the spirit of theinvention and therefore the invention is not limited to What is shown inthe drawing and described in the specification butfonly as indicated inthe appended claims.

I claim:

LA slip-off ingot of the type suitable for use with an automatic typemetal feeder and adapted to be substantially vertically suspended, saidingot comprising an elongated body portion and a hook shaped end portionfor engaging the feeder, the center of gravity of the mass of the hookshaped end portion being so laterally remote from the longitudinal axisof the body portion as to effect an unbalancing of the hook end withrelation to the feeder when the body portion has melted from the ingot,whereby a feeder'ingot engaging element associated with the said feedermay readily be threaded by said ingot end with the assurance that uponmelting of the ingot up to the ingot end, the said ingot end willautomatically disengage itself from the'feeder.

2. An ingot as in claim 1, having symmetrical ends whereby the loadingof said feeder may be facilitated.

3. A slip-off ingot of the type suitable for use with an automatic typemetal feeder, said ingot comprising an elongated body portion and ahooked end portion, said hooked end portion including a base part and anose part, said base part being heavier than said nose part, wherebywhen said ingot body portion has been melted, said base part willoverbalance said nose'part and automatically disengage itself from thefeeder.

4. An ingot as inV claim 3 having symmetrical ends whereby the loadingof said feeder maybe facilitated.

ALBERT H. JUNG.

